Name: Farhad Samadzada aka Farhot
Nationality: Afghan, Germany-based
Occupation: Producer
Current release: Farhot's new EP "RAQS (105-118BPM)," featuring Siriusmo, Daniel Kimaz, and Bazzazian, is out July 25th via Kabul Fire. Check out single "Hooyoo" here.
Shoutouts: Big shout out to Derya. Her new album is just amazing. To be honest, currently, the only rap music that does this for me is from Shabjdeed & Al Nather as well as other projects from the BLTNM label. And just yesterday, I saw Greta Thunberg having more dignity and bigger balls than the whole of Germany by standing firm on her support of starving Palestinians.
Recommendation for Hamburg, Germany: You can’t go wrong with a kebab from Batman on Steindamm near Hamburg central station. And make sure to only visit Hamburg in Summer.
Topic that I am passionate about but rarely get to talk about: Nothing really - besides that I’m passionate about watching sports and eating high quality chocolate cookies. I’d find more hobbies if someone would gift me more time.

If you enjoyed this Farhot interview and would like to stay up to date with his music and productions, visit him on Instagram.



What were some of the musical experiences which planted a seed for your interest in hip hop?

To this day, I remember the moment I realized that producing beats basically meant stacking one layer over another. Very simple. Drums and samples.

Perfecting this technique became my world for a couple of years.

What does the term hip hop mean and stand for today, would you say?

To me, hip hop is the freedom to do whatever you like as long as the sounds and songs are banging.

I feel that other genres have more restrictions.

What would you say are the key ideas behind your approach to creativity?

All I have is my own taste in music. And I imitate the greats.

Well, and at the moment I am trying to learn how to create more uptempo beats. On my new projects RAQS you’ll find the first “uptempo” beats that I’ve released in my career.

Where do most of your inspirations to create come from – rather from internal impulses or external ones? Which current social / political / ecological or other developments make you feel like you need to respond as an artist?

It’s internal first, I believe. Creating music is an extension of my personality.

Might sound corny but it’s true for me. While others dress crazy, dance or do whatnot, I work on songs or make beats to express myself.

It also helps to pay my bills. I’m really grateful for that. THANK GOD.

Hip hop has always had an interesting relationship between honouring its roots and pushing the music forward. What does the balance between these two poles look like in your music?

I used to be the youngest in every circle, now I’m the oldest. I am honouring the OGs while shaming the youngins hahahah.

I guess, that’s just how aging men behave.

What role do electronic tools and instruments, including AI, play for your creative process?

First off, let me give a big shout out to all the music software developers: Studio One, Ableton, NI, … I wouldn’t be making music without you guys.

As for AI: It will be the end for all of us :-)

Tell me a bit about the sounds & creative directions, artists & communities, as well as the colleagues & creative hotspots of your current hometown, please. How do they influence your music?

I’m based in Hamburg. Hometown of Erobique, Koze and Derya Yildirim. Derya just released the best piece of music ever to come out of this city.

I would loooove to collabarate with her someday. In shah Allah it’s going to happen. She’s dope.



I’m happy to trade ideas with my label mates Silvan Strauss and loop.

[Read our Silvan Strauss interview]

How do you see the role of sampling in hip hop today?

I just know at some point some AI will be exposing all samples from EVERYBODY hahahah.

So everyone should try to become more creative in the ways they manipulate their samples because otherwise the master rights holder will hunt them down.

There has always been a close connection between hip hop and jazz. What role does improvisation play in your current creative process?

I only improvise when I play music with my son. I play bass guitar. He plays the drums, and I love it! But I still need another ten thousand hours of training.

I feel like you’re connecting with the creator when you improvise. But when I’m on the computer, 98% of the time I’m not really creative.

Sometimes, it may seem that in hip hop, production is the main driver of progress. Do you feel like there is still space for genuinely new ideas for lyrics and vocals as well? If so, what could they look like?

To me, personally, lyrics are secondary.

And I don’t need NEW ideas, I’m fine with discovering interesting new personalities. I lose interest in songs when I feel they lack personality.

For many artists, life-changing musical experiences take place live. How do you see that yourself?

I’m still working on that. Lol.
 
How, would you say are your live performances and your recording projects are connected at the moment? How do they mutually influence and feed off of each other?

Again, I’m still trying to figure that out. Sorry.

From Star Wars via The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy to the Fifth Element,there have always been amusing sci-fi ideas about how music could look or sound like at some point. For a not too distant future, where do you personally see it going?

Good question. I think, lots of music will be sped up, pitched down, made to sound like shit – on purpose.

At the end of the day, many will mainly try to not sound boring.